Lambert Radcliff

by


Spelled and referred to variously, Lambert Radcliff was born in September 1691. He was a son in the large family of John and Rachel Van Valkenburgh Radcliff. His twin sister soon died as another Margarita Radcliff was christened in 1706. Lambert survived and grew up in the modest home of a former soldier located in a culturally diverse enclave on Albany's Southside. His unique name honored the maternal grandfather.

He was thirty-two-years-old in January 1724 when he married Albany neighbor Anna Van Zandt at the Albany Dutch church. By 1735, six children had been christened at the church where he was a frequent baptism sponsor.

Like both of their families, these Radcliffs also lived in Albany's first ward where Lambert's name was included on lists of qualified voters as late as 1763. In 1756, he was counted among Albany's householders. He served as constable and firemaster for the first ward and was a paid contractor of the city. He may have operated a brickyard near or on what became Gallows Hill.

Lambert Radcliff was last heard from in 1767 when his first ward home was assessed at one pound.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Lambert Radcliff is CAP biography number 1077. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 12/10/05; revised 2/26/12